A SIAN S TUDIES
P ROGRAM
Director
Jogindar Uppal, Ph.D.
Department of Economics
The interdisciplinary major in Asian studies offers students an opportunity to study various facets of Asian societies
and cultures (South Asia, Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia/Middle East as well as East Asia). Students primarily
interested in China, Japan and Korea are encouraged to major in East Asian Studies. While the East Asian Studies
Major has language requirements, language courses are not required of majors in Asian Studies.
Careers
A good background in Asian Studies is invaluable for work in journalism, government service, intercultural activities,
business abroad, and academic professions.
Degree Requirements for the Major in Asian Studies
General Program B.A.: A minimum of 36 credits distributed as follows:
Core Curriculum (9 credits) Six credits from A Ant 172; A Cas 150; A Gog 160 or 160G; A His 158 or 158Z, A His
176, A His 177 or 177Z and the completion of a senior essay (3 credits) taken either through a seminar or topics course
sponsored by the program, or through an independent research or reading course in a department.
Area Studies (15 credits) A minimum of 3 credits must be completed in two of the following areas and a minimum of 9
credits must be completed in the third area: South Asia, Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia (Middle East). Language study
may not be used to satisfy the area studies requirement.
Electives (12 credits) An additional 12 credits must be completed in appropriate course work related to Asian studies
from the following listed courses.
South Asian Area Courses
A Ant 351 or 351Z Ethnicity in North America
A Eco 480 or 480Z Economic Development of South Asia
A His 378 History of South Asian Civilization II
A His 384Z Social Science Approaches to History
A His 485 or 485Z Colloquium in Comparative and Cross-Cultural History
A Phi 340 Topics in Philosophy (depending on topic)
A Phi 342 Indian Philosophies
R Pos 358 Politics of India and Pakistan
South East Asian Area Courses
A Eco 330 or 330Z Economics of Development
A Eco 364 or 364Z Comparative Economic Systems
A His 312 History of American Foreign Policy II
A His 384 or 384Z History of Japan
Southwest Asian (Middle East) Area Courses
A Ant 243 Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East
A Clc 133 History of Ancient Greece
A His 381 or 381Zand 382 or 382Z History of the Middle East I & II
A His 383 or 383Z The Arab-Israeli Conflict in Historical Perspective
A Jst 243 Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East
A Jst 341Z Issues in Biblical Civilization
A Jst 342Z Issues in Hellenistic-Rabbinic Judaism
R Pos 359 Israeli Politics
Other Courses
East Asia
A Eac 170L China: Its Culture and Heritage
A Eac 210L Survey of Chinese Classical Literature in Translation I
A Eac 211L Survey of Chinese Classical Literature in Translation II
A Eac 212L Modern Chinese Literature in Translation
A Eac 290 Ideology and Reality in Contemporary China
A Eac 389 Topics in Chinese Literature, History and Culture
A Eco 362/A Eas 362 The Political Economy of Japan & Korea
A Eco 363 Economic Development of Modern China
A Gog 160M or 160G China: People and Places in the of Land One Billion
A Gog 470Z China after Deng Xiaoping
A His 387 or 387Z Islam in the Middle East: Religion and Culture I
A His 388 or 388Z Islam in the Middle East: Religion and Culture II
A His 379 or 379Z History of China I
A His 380 or 380Z History of China II
A His 385 History of Japan
A His 485 Colloquium in Comparative and Cross-Cultural History
A Jst 351 or 351Z Jewish American Ethnic Groups
A Phi 344 Chinese Philosophies
A Phi 346 Japanese Religions and Philosophies
A Pln 570 Urbanization in China
R Pos 373 Government and Politics in the People’s Republic of China
R Pos 376 The Foreign Policy of the People’s Republic of China
Additional Non-Area Courses
A Ant 172 Community and Self
A Ant 331 Early Civilization of the Old World
A Ant 351 or 351Z Ethnicity in North America
A Eco 330 or 330Z Economics of Development
A Eco 364 or 364Z Comparative Economic Systems
A Phi 214 World Religions
A Phi 340 Topics in Philosophy (depending upon topic)
A Phy 201L & 201E Physics and Buddhism
A Rel 100L Introduction to the Study of Religion
A Soc 282M Race and Ethnicity
R Crj 414Z Order and Disorder in Society
R Pos 353 Developing Political Systems
R Pos 461Z Comparative Ethnicity
Additional Course
Opportunities
Independent study and topical courses offered in various departments may be considered for the major when the topics
are appropriate; e.g., courses in economics or sociology. Other courses may be approved for the major when their
content is predominantly Asian. Appropriate Asian studies courses at neighboring institutions also may be applied to
the major.
Opportunities for Study Abroad
Several opportunities to study abroad are available through various exchange programs. The exchange programs in
China and Japan are administered through the East Asian Studies Department. However, the exchange program through
Singapore is available to majors in Asian Studies. Students interested primarily in South East Asia are encouraged to
apply for the Singapore Program. Also, there is a Consortium of Colleges in New York State that arranges studies in
India for a semester’s credit.